The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-03-09
Harmony in the Democratic Party Is
More Essential Than the Success of
ANY Man or Faction.

The political situation in Louisiana does
not at present augur that unity, harmony
and consistency in the Democratic party
that will solidify its masses and restore
it's esprit de corps that is SO essential to
success. The prejudices and bitter ami
mosities that were engendered in the con-
test of 1894 over the gubernatorial office
have not yet subsidized, but on the contra
ny have grown stronger with certain par
tisan leaders, and the chasm has grown
deeper and wider until now the unity OF
the Democratic party itself in Louisiana
is threatened. The contest between the
houses of York and Lancaster is memora-
BILE for its bitterness, for the supremacy of
the one meant the utter ruin Of the hopes
and fortunes of the other. The contest
between what is now known as the adj
ministration and anti-administratiOn fac
tiops dates back to the election Of Gov.
Wilt, and has grown in bitterness each
year, until now there is in irrepressiblo
conflict between the two, the success OF
triumph of the one meaning the official de-
capitation of all the adherents of the 9th
er. The Democracy of louisiana has BEEN
and will continue to be divided between
these two factions, and bitter elimination
and recrimination will continue, until the
good sense and patriotism of q large ele-
ment in the party combine to assert the
supremacy of Democratic principles over
factions, and thus harmonic and unity
the Democratic party for the good of
| the State.
General Nichols is the we'll known lead
er of the anti-administrat1o faction; he,
no doubt, as we'll as his friends and admi-
rers feel that injustice was done him by
the calling of the Constitutional Conven-
ton of 1879, and his subsequent displace-
ment from the office which he then held.
The men who controlled the political af-
fairs of the party at that time, were in
strumental in scoring another defeat for
the gallant General in 1884. He is cha
fling under it, although the Federal Adj
ministration gave to his followers or fac
ton, almo2t it's entire patronage. Many
of his friends that once baslsed in the sun
shine of his official patronage, who were
relegated to the hum drum of pFivste life
by his defeat, are signing ay.in for the
flesh pots, and with the cry of reform arc
preparing to oust the ''McEncry ring" and
once again take possession Of their claimed
heritage.
The Warwick of Caddo, with instruc-
tons from the far away group in Wash
ington, waited not for the gentle Spring
to take the field, but called on the gallant
General to break up Winter quarters and
open the campaign at once. Responding
to Warwick's battle cry he announced the
fact that he would personally lead the
Reform cohorts (of all colors and political
persuasions ~ to victory, and destroy for
ever the last vestige of Ring rule in LOU
isiana. Not only is the McEnery faction
to be lain low in defeat, but Eustis, the
Senator, must vacate, Gibson, the loyal,
remain, and Jonas, unless he breaks his
sullen silence and joins Warwick's eco
horts," will be relegated to the shades of
private life, and younger Reformer take
the Senatorial place. Warwick! to rule
is worth ambition, but sometimes "vault-
ing ambition overleaps itself"
On the other hand Gov. McEnery, who
has been SO pitile: sly assailed, is engaged
in the patriotic work of developing the
agricultural resources of the State, watcll-
ing the levees Of the Mississippi, and dis
charging faithfully his duties to the pco-
pie of Louisiana. Panoplied in the armor
of true and tried Democracy he courts not
the struggle, but the straight-out Demo-
Gratis (not reformers Or mugwumps) are
ready to enlist under his standard and
bear it, as they have borne it in the past,
to victory. The straight-out Democrats
who have stood by McEnery in the past
and are known to sustain his administers
ton know that Warwick and his General,
if victorious, will grant no quarters, and
defeat for them means political ostracism.
Thus the contest between the two factions
will go on, growing more bitter until the
unity OF the Democratic party in LOuisi-
ana will be endangered and perhaps des-
troyed. Is this desirable /! Can and
ought it not TO be avoided? Every day
and from every quarter you hear men,
true and tried Democrats express their
preference for some third man who has
not been so pronounced partisan of ell
Their faction.
The remark is heard every day express
ing preference for McEnery over Nj
cholls, and rice rersa if the contest is mar
rowed down to these two men, but in the
same breath you hear desire to heal the
breach and harmOnize the Democratic
party by dropping both and uniting on
some straight-out conservative Democrat
whose whole aim will be to save the unity
Of the party, harmonic it's conflicting ell
ements and serve the State more faithful
ly than either contending faction. There
are number of just such Democrats in
Louisiana, honest, faithful and compe-
tent, aud we see no good reason for longer
continuing this bitter factional fight be-
tween the administration and anti-admin-
istration rings so-called.